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Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A99

Portability
94
Imaging
36
Features
21
Overall
30
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3 front
 
Sony SLT-A99 front
Portability
57
Imaging
69
Features
88
Overall
76

Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A99 Key Specs

Panasonic FH3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F2.8-6.9) lens
  • 165g - 98 x 55 x 24mm
  • Introduced January 2010
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-FS11
Sony A99
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 812g - 147 x 111 x 78mm
  • Announced December 2012
  • Earlier Model is Sony A900
  • Later Model is Sony A99 II
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Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A99 Overview

Let's look more closely at the Panasonic FH3 and Sony A99, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Panasonic and Sony. There exists a crucial gap between the sensor resolutions of the FH3 (14MP) and A99 (24MP) and the FH3 (1/2.3") and A99 (Full frame) use different sensor measurements.

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The FH3 was introduced 3 years earlier than the A99 and that is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FH3 being a Compact camera and the Sony A99 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving straight into a full comparison, below is a simple summary of how the FH3 scores vs the A99 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FH3 over the Sony A99

 FH3 A99 

Reasons to pick Sony A99 over the Panasonic FH3

 A99 FH3 
AnnouncedDecember 2012January 2010More recent by 35 months
Manual focus Very precise focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution1229k230kSharper display (+999k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Panasonic FH3 and Sony A99

 FH3 A99 
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A99 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to lug around your camera, you'll have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic FH3 offers physical measurements of 98mm x 55mm x 24mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 165 grams (0.36 lbs) whilst the Sony A99 has dimensions of 147mm x 111mm x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1") and a weight of 812 grams (1.79 lbs).

Check the Panasonic FH3 and Sony A99 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you select at that time. Underneath is the front view dimensions comparison of the FH3 compared to the A99.

Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A99 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the FH3 and A99 is 94 and 57 respectively.

Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A99 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A99 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's tough to visualize the gap between sensor measurements just by reading through technical specs. The graphic here may offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the FH3 and A99.

As you have seen, both of those cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The FH3 having a tinier sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF more challenging and the Sony A99 will give greater detail using its extra 10MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop pics a little more aggressively. The older FH3 is going to be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A99 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A99 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A99 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FH3 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A99 as a Portrait photography camera
28
MP count good (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
81
focusing manually
MP count decent (24 megapixels)
large sensor size (Full frame)
has face detection focus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FH3 as a Street photography camera
Sony A99 as a Street photography camera
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
75
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
large sensor size (Full frame)
saves RAW formats
weather sealing
very good high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FH3 Sports photography advice
Sony A99 Sports photography advice
34
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14MP)
continuous shooting slow (6.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
78
high shutter speed (1/8,000s)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (24MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
has tracking autofocus
weather sealing
supports phase detect auto focus
not so great battery (500 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FH3 Travel photography highlights
Sony A99 Travel photography highlights
64
MP count good (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
lack of Timelapse function
does not feature selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
60
weather sealing
MP count decent (24 megapixels)
selfie friendly display
missing Timelapse mode
not so great battery (500 shots)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FH3 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony A99 as a Landscape photography camera
37
fairly wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (14MP)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.7")
lack of manual mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
lack of Timelapse function
74
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (24MP)
large sensor size (Full frame)
very good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
weather sealing
has double storage slots
not so great battery (500 per charge)
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FH3 Vlogging info
Sony A99 Vlogging info
29
fairly wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
does not feature selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of microphone jack
76
selfie friendly display
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with external microphone port
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Panasonic FH3 vs Sony A99 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH3 and Sony A99
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3Sony SLT-A99
General Information
Brand Name Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH3 Sony SLT-A99
Also Known as Lumix DMC-FS11 -
Class Small Sensor Compact Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2010-01-06 2012-12-12
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 35.8 x 23.8mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 852.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 24 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4320 x 3240 6000 x 4000
Maximum native ISO 6400 25600
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 9 19
Cross type focus points - 11
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens zoom range 28-140mm (5.0x) -
Largest aperture f/2.8-6.9 -
Macro focusing range 5cm -
Amount of lenses - 143
Crop factor 5.9 1
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen size 2.7" 3"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 1,229 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech - TFT Xtra Fine color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.71x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting speed 6.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 6.80 m no built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/250s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 165g (0.36 pounds) 812g (1.79 pounds)
Dimensions 98 x 55 x 24mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.9") 147 x 111 x 78mm (5.8" x 4.4" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 89
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 25.0
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 14.0
DXO Low light rating not tested 1555
Other
Battery life - 500 photos
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card, Internal Memory Stick PRO Duo/Pro-HG Duo; SD, SDHC and SDXC
Storage slots One Dual
Price at launch $160 $1,998